The Most Common Obstacles to Weight Loss

The Most Common Obstacles to Weight Loss

Losing weight is at the top of most people’s health goals. Obesity is exponentially increasing world-wide. For some people paying attention to calories and exercise is enough, but for many it is not. You have been erroneously told that weight loss is merely a matter of calories consumed and calories burned. This is not true. 

In a laboratory, a calorie of carbohydrate is equal to a calorie of fat which is equal to calorie of protein. The human body responds to the intake of carbohydrates differently than the intake of protein and fats. Carbohydrates significantly increase insulin levels, while there is a much smaller insulin response to the intake of fats and proteins. 

Fat accumulates in fat tissue when we have elevated insulin in our blood. Insulin directs fat and liver cells to produce more fat and turns off the ability to burn fat. To burn fat, insulin levels must remain sufficiently low. The reasonable consumption of healthy fats and proteins stimulates fat metabolism resulting in a decrease in fat storage. In addition to carbohydrate intake, insulin levels are affected by the interaction of food choices, prolonged stress, hormone imbalances (estrogen, cortisol, leptin, etc.), inflammation, poor digestion, and exercise. 

This is why nutritional programs designed specifically to address your unique body’s physiology offers the solution to your weight issues. 

Foods that stimulate elevated insulin responses range from simple carbohydrates (cake, candy, sodas, white flour products, alcohol); to whole grains (wheat, corn, etc.); and high carbohydrate vegetables (carrots, broccoli, potatoes). Consuming any of the above mentioned foods will stimulate the production of fat and maintain the levels of fat in your body. 

Prolonged stress hormone responses lead to elevated blood sugar levels and decreased muscle mass, thereby increasing insulin activity and abdominal fat accumulation. Chronic inflammation, which can result from improper digestive function, symptomless infections, and insufficient detoxification increases insulin activity.